LAUNCHPOINT Sport & Event Strategies

What LAUNCHPOINT Sport & Event Strategies does

LAUNCHPOINT Sport & Event Strategies is a Calgary-based professional event management firm founded in 2013 that delivers end-to-end strategy, planning, and execution for sports, nonprofit, and corporate clients. The company bundles ten service lines under one roof, including event management, logistics, sponsor and exhibitor sales, exhibit design and rendering, production and hospitality builds, experience design, marketing and communications, entertainment programming, video and photography, and fundraising support. This integrated offering allows clients to contract a single counterparty across the full event lifecycle rather than coordinating multiple vendors.

The firm generates revenue primarily through project-based and retainer engagements tied to specific events, with anchor clients including Rogers Communications, Speed Skating Canada, Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp, the Calgary Downtown Association, Hockey Canada, and the Juno Awards. Flagship engagements include the Shaw Charity Classic (a PGA TOUR Champions event managed continuously since 2013), the Grey Cup Festival 2019, the ISU World Cup Speed Skating, the Juno Awards 2016, and the Glow Winter Festival. Repeat work and recognition, including the PGA TOUR Champions President's Award in 2014, 2015, and 2017, anchor the go-to-market motion through reputation and existing relationships rather than outbound sales.

The operating model is high-touch and human-capital-driven, with a compact 9-person team led by CEO Sean Van Kesteren. Service delivery is on-site intensive, leveraging volunteer networks of more than 1,000 individuals and contracted transport and production partners rather than proprietary software platforms. The firm is privately held and does not disclose financials, and its competitive position rests on event continuity, sponsor relationships, and recognized execution quality within the Canadian sports and major-events ecosystem.

Name

LAUNCHPOINT Sport & Event Strategies

Legal name

LAUNCHPOINT Sport & Event Strategies

Website

https://lpstrategies.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LAUNCHPOINT Sport & Event Strategies is a Calgary-based event management firm providing end-to-end strategy, logistics, sponsor sales, and production services to sports properties, nonprofits, and corporate clients across Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sport and Event Management Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113), Spectator Sports (71121), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Event Promotion & Tournament Operations (MPAKAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK), Sports Brand Strategy & Creative Services (Design, Content, Social) (MPAKAKAF)

Keywords

• Sport event management
• Event logistics services
• Sponsorship sales strategy
• Exhibit design rendering
• Experiential marketing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Event Management Services: Full-service event management including logistics, operations, marketing, production, and hospitality. Revenue is generated through professional service fees for project-based engagements, likely structured as fixed-fee contracts or retainer arrangements for ongoing event management.
2. Sponsorship & Partnership Services: Hosting and sponsorship strategy services helping organizations navigate sponsorship marketing, evaluate strategies, and secure partners. Revenue derived from consulting fees and project-based engagements.
3. Exhibit Design & Hospitality Builds: Design, planning, and construction of unique hospitality venues including temporary structures. Services include detailed renderings, engineered drawings, budgeting, and vendor management for physical event infrastructure.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

LAUNCHPOINT Sport & Event Strategies is a professional event management company providing turnkey strategic solutions for organizations, brands, sport and event properties. The company delivers comprehensive services spanning event logistics, sponsor and exhibitor sales strategy, exhibit design and rendering, production and hospitality builds, experience design, marketing and communications, and fundraising programs, primarily for high-profile sporting events and community festivals in Canada.

Product overview

LAUNCHPOINT Sport & Event Strategies is a professional event management company offering a unified suite of services for sports and event management. The company's service portfolio includes Event Management, Event Logistics, Sponsor & Exhibitor Sales Strategy, Exhibit Design & Rendering, Production & Hospitality Builds, Experience Design, Marketing & Communications, Entertainment & Guest Speakers, Video & Photography, and Fundraising & Goodwill programs. The company specializes in managing signature events including the Shaw Charity Classic (annual PGA TOUR Champions golf tournament), Glow Winter Festival, ISU World Cup Speed Skating, Grey Cup Festival, and various corporate hosting events like the RBC Championship Pro-Am and Executive Women's Day. The company has helped raise over $112 million for youth and children's charities in Alberta.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shaw Charity Classic: Annual PGA TOUR Champions golf tournament managed by Launchpoint at Canyon Meadows G&CC, featuring world golf hall of fame players. Has raised over $93 million for youth-based charities in Alberta.
• Glow Winter Festival
• Executive Women's Day
• RBC Championship Pro-Am

Products and services

• Event Management Comprehensive event management from initial creation to post-event cleanup, managing all logistical, operational, and marketing components to ensure event success and objectives are met for enterprise clients including sports properties, corporations, and associations.
• Event Logistics Detailed operations planning including sketched structures, vendor liaison, host city and stakeholder management, volunteer and transportation programs, and operational support for sports and community events.
• Sponsor & Exhibitor Sales Strategy Sponsorship marketing services helping organizations navigate the ever-evolving world of sponsorship, evaluate current strategies, and identify properties and approaches to partner with, including partner recruitment and sponsorship activation.
• Exhibit Design & Rendering Design, planning, and building of unique hospitality venues including detailed renderings, engineered drawings, budget compilation, and management of temporary structures including permitting, design, and construction.
• Production & Hospitality Builds Event production services providing detailed operations plans, vendor relationships management, and support for all event operational needs from flooring and tenting to furniture and finishing touches for hospitality builds.
• Experience Design Development, planning, and execution of meaningful and engaging experiences that tell organizations' stories and resonate in the marketplace through experiential marketing campaigns or corporate hosting strategies.
• Marketing & Communications Experiential marketing and media strategy services that maximize organizational reputation through memorable and measurable campaigns, including media engagement and communications strategy for events.
• Entertainment & Guest Speakers Coordination and sourcing of entertainment talent and keynote speakers for events, including musicians, performers, and notable personalities for headlining appearances and activations.
• Video & Photography Professional video and photography services for event documentation and marketing purposes, including content capture for promotional and archival use.
• Fundraising & Goodwill Creation of compelling giving initiatives and charitable events, having helped raise over $112 million for over 270 youth and children's charities in Alberta through programs like Birdies for Kids.

Quantifiable outcome

• $112 million raised for 270+ youth and children's charities in Alberta
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rogers Communications / RogerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor of the Shaw Charity Classic, a premier PGA TOUR Champions golf tournament managed by Launchpoint. Rogers Communications provides primary sponsorship funding, with Launchpoint managing all event elements including marketing, operations, and the charitable program.
• Canyon Meadows Golf and Country ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue host for the Shaw Charity Classic since 2013. Long-term partnership with exclusive golf club providing premium tournament venue.
• Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLinkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable program associated with the Shaw Charity Classic. Launchpoint manages the charitable program which has raised over $93 million for 260+ youth-based charities in Alberta.
• Calgary Downtown AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Launchpoint to create Glow Winter Festival, a three-night event to brighten spirits and elevate local business in downtown Calgary. Launchpoint managed all event elements from brand conception to tear-down.
• Speed Skating CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpeed Skating Canada engaged Launchpoint to execute the ISU World Cup Speed Skating event at the Olympic Oval. Launchpoint managed all event elements including promotion, media engagement, and volunteer management.
• Calgary Sports and Entertainment CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngaged Launchpoint to manage volunteer program, transportation program, and temporary suite build-out for the 2019 Grey Cup Festival. CSEC provides access to McMahon Stadium and organizational resources.
• Skijor CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunchpoint collaborated with Skijor Canada to create Skijordue, a unique winter sporting event combining equestrian and snow sports elements.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Karrikins Group: Calgary-based sponsorship and marketing consultancy working with brands and sports properties on partnership strategy and activation. Comparable in offering sponsorship strategy services to Western Canadian clients, making it a regional peer.
• Northpoint Strategies: Canadian sport and event management firm supporting rights holders and corporate clients with event execution and partnership services. Comparable in operating in the Canadian sport event space but serving different client segments and geographies within Canada.
• Leverage Marketing: Canadian sponsorship and brand experience agency serving clients across Canada with sponsorship strategy, activation, and event services. Comparable in offering sponsorship and event services but focused primarily on the Canadian market like Launchpoint.

Broad incumbents

• CAA Sports: Division of Creative Artists Agency focused on sports marketing, event consulting, and properties representation for leagues, teams, and brands. Comparable in working with sports properties and corporate sponsors, though with a much broader portfolio and global footprint.
• CSM Sport & Entertainment: International sport and entertainment agency delivering sponsorship, event experiences, and brand activation for rights holders and brands. Closely aligned with Launchpoint's experiential marketing and sponsorship strategy services, though it operates across multiple continents.
• Wasserman: Large sports marketing and talent management firm offering sponsorship consulting, event strategy, and brand activation for sports properties and corporate clients. Comparable in offering integrated sponsorship and event strategy solutions, but operates globally with far greater resources.
• Octagon: Global sports marketing and event management agency that produces major sporting event experiences and manages sponsorship portfolios for brands and rights holders. Directly comparable to Launchpoint's sport/event management and sponsorship services but at significantly larger scale and geographic reach.
• MKTG (Dentsu): Global experiential marketing agency within Dentsu that designs and executes live brand experiences, sports activations, and event programs. Comparable in experiential design and event execution, though part of a much larger global holding company.

Direct peers

• Engine Shop: Sports and entertainment marketing agency delivering event experiences, sponsorship activation, and brand strategy for rights holders and corporate sponsors. Directly comparable in providing integrated sponsorship and event management services to similar sports property and brand clients.
• KORE (Sponsorship & Marketing Agency): Canadian sponsorship consultancy advising brands and properties on partnership strategy, valuation, and activation. Directly comparable to Launchpoint's Sponsor & Exhibitor Sales Strategy service for corporate and rights-holder clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/launchpoint-sport-event-strategies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LAUNCHPOINT Sport & Event Strategies